Mark and Grady and I had had a great day at the LMT. A couple
of well known long-term Scientologists -- now former members of
Miscavige's Church of Scientology -- had dropped by to say hi.
We hadn't spoken since I was a member of the C of S and it was
really great to catch up. They both assured me that there are
Scientologists all over the country who are not members of
Miscavige's Church but who are all in touch and all doing very
well. We decided it's just about time to have a big party at
the LMT for everyone who has left Miscavige's Church --
Scientologists and former Scientologists alike.

A few other people had also dropped by to introduce themselves,
just people in the community who wanted to let us know they're
glad we're in Clearwater. One guy offered his services to us
and he will be able to help us tremendously. Excuse me for not
giving details :-)

On my way home I stopped at the new Publix on West Bay. I had
just about finished my grocery shopping and was leaning over
the cold cuts counter, looking for some Swiss cheese. Suddenly
a woman came up to me and stared at me, bug-eyed. She was in
her mid-thirties, with long straight hair and bangs, kind of an
orangey blond color.

I was about to ask her if she needed some help when she blurted
out, loudly, "Don't I know you?"

Before I had a chance to say anything she said, even more
loudly, "I've seen you on TV. At the City Commissioners'
meeting. You're Stacy Brooks! You're a Suppressive Person!"

By now she was shouting at me. Finally understanding what was
happening, I said, "Ah, you're a Scientologist. What's your
name?"

But she didn't tell me her name. She just kept shouting at me,
"You're a Suppressive Person! You're a Suppressive Person!"

She was really upset by now. Hoping to calm her down a bit, I
said, "Maybe we should sit down and have a conversation."

But at that she jumped back as if she'd been bitten. "I can't
believe I've been shopping in the same grocery store as a
Suppressive Person! I'm never going to shop at this store
again!" She seemed genuinely horrified that she and I were
buying our cold cuts from the same counter.

Finally she turned and, abandoning her cart, went running down
the aisle shouting, "You're a Suppressive Person! You're a
Suppressive Person!" until she turned the corner and
disappeared.

It was really quite a spectacle. Once she was gone I breathed a
sigh of relief and turned back to my cart. It was then that I
realized several other people had witnessed this encounter.
They were standing around wide-eyed, not knowing quite what to
do.

One man approached me, as if speaking for the group. After
glancing from side to side (I assume to make sure the woman was
really gone), said, "Who was she?" in a loud whisper.

"She's a Scientologist," I began. I intended to say more, but
the man immediately said, "Oh! I understand," and nodded his
head at the others knowingly. I smiled and shrugged. A couple
of the women shook their heads and smiled at me
sympathetically. Then everyone continued on with their shopping.